Cytokine profile in adolescent girls with candidal vulvovaginitis

Aim. To establish the pathogenic value of serum cytokine (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) production in patients with candidal vulvovaginitis to optimize diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Methods. 74 adolescent girls suffering from candidal vulvovaginitis aged from 12 to 19 years were examined. The diagnosis of candidal vulvovaginitis was verified according to the international classification of World Health Organization (ICD-X codes B37.3 and N77.1). At the stage of clinical examination, medical and general history was analyzed, general and gynecological examination was performed. The diagnosis of candidiasis was confirmed by the presence of vegetative forms of Candida spp. (budding yeast cells, pseudomycelium and/or mycelium) in Gram-stained smears from the mucous membranes of the vulva, urethra. The control group consisted of 20 healthy patients of appropriate age and sex. Serum levels of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using «ELISA interleukin-6» and «ELISA interleukin-8» test systems (ZAO «Vector-Best», Russia). Results. The study has shown increased serum levels of interleukin-6 in adolescent patients with candidal vulvovaginitis. Interleukin-6 level in peripheral blood was significantly higher in patients with candidal vulvovaginitis (21.7±2.4 pg/ml) compared to controls (9.4±1.5 pg/ml, p <0.02). Serum interleukin-8 level was also significantly higher (51.2±2.1 pg/ml) in patients with candidal vulvovaginitis compared to controls (23.9±1.04 pg/ml, p <0.01). Conclusion. The revealed features of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production may be used as additional objective criteria of the orientation of the inflammatory response in patients with various forms of vaginal candidiasis. The changes of the studied parameters might reflect the state of the immune system and the severity of the inflammatory response.

interleukin-6, interleukin-8, candidal vulvovaginitis, pathogenesis